Burke: College free agents make 'insignificant contribution'

Brian Burke believes that Jimmy Vesey is a rare college free agent who can have an impact in the NHL.

But the President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames isn’t as sold on other NCAA recruits.

“If you look at the college free agents, they have made a dramatically insignificant contribution to our league,” Burke told TSN. “Tyler Bozak might be the best one. Of the 100 or 150 that have signed, most have very little impact.”

While Burke admitted that Vesey is not in discussions with the Flames, he believes that Vesey will be a worthwhile addition to the team he joins.

“I think (Vesey) is going to play and make a difference. I think he’s going to be a good player,” Burke said. “But if you look at that group, and the money that the league has spent on those players, and their contribution, it is a pimple on an elephant’s butt.”

As the former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Burke signed Bozak as an undrafted college free agent in 2009. With Toronto, Burke also signed college free agents Christian Hanson and Brayden Irwin, who combined for fewer than 50 games in the NHL.